Verne Rupright, (Non-Affiliated) Nominating Petition Candidate
State Representative, District 7
Why are you running for office?
The greater Wasilla area is the fastest growing area of the State. With my hands on approach and experience of getting projects accomplished as Mayor, through conception to completion, continuing the forward progress of Wasilla, Dist 7, is my goal. With the six years of experience lobbying for capital improvement projects, my focus will always be looking down the road as how decisions will effect my Dist, Mat-Su valley and the progress of the State as a whole.
The biggest problem facing the state of Alaska is
Deficit Spending
Describe three ways in which the state should try to grow and diversify Alaska's economy
We are still an Oil Revenue State so bringing Oil and also Gas to market is still top priority.
Infrastructure to be put in place that allows for low cost energy and lower refined gas prices. Port facilities for export commodities and the list goes on.
When infrastructure is in place, encouragement of value added products for export as well as reduced prices to Alaska consumers.
What amount of state spending do you believe is sustainable? If cuts need to be made, where should most of the money come from, the operations budget or the capital budget?
It is hard to answer that until the State Budget is put into a very clear form where legislators, and the public, have the opportunity to get down to the minutia. Cuts to the Operations Budget are most appropriate. I have reduced the City of Wasilla's operations budget by 19% in six years without raising taxes, no property tax and no lay-offs. How much more is there to be found in the State Budget? Clearly it is time for the legislators to get their red pens out.
What additional steps can the state take to promote construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope?
Encourage private investors with a fair and equitable split to the State and it's citizens. The current regime of taxation and "split" putting Alaska risk without equal voice is plain ridiculous.
The voters have chosen Senate Bill 21 or the More Alaska Production Act to generate most of the state's tax revenues. How will you determine whether this tax structure is effective? Do you think any changes should be made to the law in the upcoming legislative session?
We cannot make any changes for two years by law. It is pretty obvious after that time we will be able to see if it is beneficial. But when we look to review this bill, we cannot rely upon the income "status" alone, as there are too many variables which are set by the producers and their production plan. We need to look down the road at least 10 years, as our producers do.
What additional steps can the state take to promote construction of a natural gas pipeline from the North Slope?
We should not be depleting our savings to run operations budget. I don't believe that is necessary now. I am completely willing though, to use savings for Capital Improvements, judiciously. Investing in ourselves is the only means by which we can offset what I see as up-coming financial stress. There is no reason to reduce the Permanent Fund Checks at this time. The Operations Budget should be cut first removing redundant requirements at literally all levels of government.
Should the state subsidy program for films and reality television programs continue? Explain.
I do not have the actuals as to how much "off-take" revenue the subsidy program generates. Jobs, short lived, tourism, anything else?
Hard to quantify, so I'll say no.
Taxation on oil and gas production in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
Generally lower than it should be
Taxation on other industries in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
This needs to be revisited and align the tax rate with the activity.
Taxation on individual citizens in Alaska is ___ (Generally higher than it should be, About right; Generally lower than it should be, other):
Skewed by city and borough and unincorporated areas. There should be a adjusted average depending on the area and the services rendered.
What are your specific plans to address the serious problems of leadership, morale and accountability within the Alaska National Guard?
As a legislator, I can only comment that the first thing that should have been done is identify the problem. As legislator we may accept or reject appointments, we can request review of and change regulations.
I can and will INSIST ON ACCOUNTABLILITY. I am a former Alaska Army National Guard Officer and find this deplorable.
What are Alaska's three biggest education challenges? What is your plan to address each of them?
The first priority, is to institute models of teaching that have been proven to work. I am against Federal Government Common Core. Education should be in local control and I have every confidence that within our own State we can develop an exceptional working model. Cost is of course an ongoing problem, once again, reducing operations budget (not teachers) streamline regulations and paying off the retirement debt as quickly as possible. Funding COL increases.
What are your suggestions to increase accountability of public schools?
It is not clear by the question what accountability is referred too. On funding, I've covered that above. Definitely going through each budget line item is in order and consolidate, delete the unnecessary, revise policy for cost savings. As for the end product, graduates that can compete in the work force, the model that we can develop allows for homeschooling, Trades, Career, Technical and Charter schools. Neither mainstream or alternative schooling needs to be sacrificed.
Would you support a constitutional amendment that would allow public funds to be spent on private or religious K-12 education? If such an amendment were to pass, would you then support voucher or some similar grant to parents of state funds that they could spend on private or religious education for their children?
I did not support the previous legislation. It would not have passed constitutional scrutiny. This legislation is in response to many Alaskan's dissatisfaction with the public school system. The public school system needs to be fixed, not destroyed. The previous proposal would have put a huge burden on every tax payer in the state - right onto your property tax to make up the difference. My wife's mother worked to put all her children in parochial school as she chose to.
What are your plans for improving the quality of education offered through the University of Alaska system?
Being a graduate of the Alaska University System and being very well prepared to advance to Doctorate level, I am not sure of the problem. College is not High School. No one holds your hand there, and as adults it up to the Students to bring forward complaints and I will LISTEN AND TAKE ACTION as warranted. Student Loan rates in Alaska are too high and need to be addressed.
Do you support or oppose expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act? Explain.
Not comfortable with a yes/no answer here because I don't have enough information. Although I believe the revenue structure of the Federal Government is into almost everything it should not be, we have all ready paid for this, if it benefits Alaskans, and creates jobs great. To receive some health care is better than none. If I find some incredibly onerous regulations attached to this, which are detrimental to the people, I will address the issues that arise directly.
Are you confident that the current level of state environmental regulation and oversight of offshore oil and gas drilling and shipping is adequate to prevent a major spill in Alaska? If not, where are we deficient and what will you propose to achieve adequate protection?
Off Shore drilling is a future potential, but we must negotiate with the surrounding Arctic country's to address environmental protection - before it gets "busy". I am not talking about the Law of the Sea. There should be taxation on what ever may be appropriate to pay for the development and upkeep of hazardous waste spill response plan, for the State of Alaska and the Arctic circle and revenues generated would be shared by the other countries.
What is your assessment of Alaska's transportation system? What, if anything, would you change?
The State of Alaska DOT is 10 years behind. I went to the Governor and received money to bring in an out of state advisor on current road models. the DOT must listen to the local communities input on road design, no construction design should cut off community quality. Content Sensitive Solutions is the future to road development. I fought hard for this and spoke to US Secretary Fox on this issue in Nome during the recent Mayors/AML Conference as well as addressing the statewide Mayors.
The Legislature has approved the use of state funds for four mega-projects: the Knik Arm Crossing, the Susitna-Watana dam and two gas line projects. Can the state afford all four, or should one or more be dropped? If so, which?
If we had developed as we should when money was flowing rather than taking a herky-jerky approach to development this State would not be in a crisis. The firs priority is to find the right project to spur the economy which no doubt is resource based. My priority is getting the cost of energy down - for the people of Alaska and bringing natural gas to market as a revenue stream. We must not raid the budget reserves to zero and then attack the Permanent Fund
State your position on abortion. When should it be allowed, and when should government pay for it? Do you anticipate pushing any legislation, policies or budget proposals that would change the status quo in Alaska?
I do believe abortion is necessary sometimes for the life of the mother, in the case of rape and incest, it should not be the role of government to decide, and the act was against a persons will. After the horror of such events it is not my place to decide. Abortion will never be eradicated, but I would dearly love to end abortion as a means of birth control as it is often used. Government should intervene when and if the person is in dire straights. The current law has worked for over 40 years.
When is it appropriate to appoint a non-Alaskan to a state board or commission?
Never - Out of State persons may serve in advisory capacity only.
Are you satisfied with the process by which judges are selected and appointed in Alaska? Explain.
No. The Alaska Bar has to much control - and remember many of the bar members are advocates for the government who work within the system. There will be a tendency to advocate among themselves, and if you look at the appointments it seems prevalent over the years. I would like a law that insists on a fair percentage of private practicing attorneys to be appointed.
The number of Alaska State Troopers and Village Public Safety Officers is ____ (More than necessary, about right, less than necessary):
Less than necessary
If you answered more or less, what specific steps would you take to achieve the right level?
N/A
Bio
Age: 63
Occupation: Mayor /Attorney
Current employer: City of Wasilla
Employment history:
2008-2014 Mayor, City of Wasilla
1997-2008 Practicing Attorney in Wasilla Self Employed
1992-1997 Attorney, Stepovich and Kennelly
Probation Officer, Corrections Officer, Army National Guard in Alaska
Previous public offices held:
Mayor, City of Wasilla
Chair, Planning Commission, City of Wasilla
Previous unsuccessful runs for office: None
Postsecondary education:
Associate of Science in Law Enforcement Management and Administration from North Shore Community College in 1976.
1981 Bachelor of Arts in Justice from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
1992 Juris Doctorate from the Creighton University School of Law.
Military service:
U.S. Air Force from 1970-74 Medic in the Medical Service field. Vietnam veteran and was also in the U.S. Army National Guard/Reserve/Alaska from 1976-1992. Rank in the Army was Captain.
Alaska Scout Graduate
Alaska Defense Force -awarded the Alaska Homeland Defense Medal
2095-2008 Rank of Major
Spouse's name: Bernadette
Children: Elizabeth and Charlotte
Website: www.verneruprightforstatehouse.com